Southside Christian School


Southside Christian School is a private K-12 Christian school in Simpsonville, South Carolina. SCS was established in 1967 and is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International. SCS serves approximately 1100 students beginning at 18 months of age and continuing through 12th grade on one campus. Students are divided into Early Education, Lower School, and Upper School.

History

Southside Christian School was one of five all white private schools that were established in Greenville County between 1966 and 1970 when Greenville public schools were being desegregated. Southside Christian School officials, however, have denied that school was established to facilitate racially segregated education.
In 1978, Southside Christian School administrator Ron Brooks spoke at a conference organized by opponents of an IRS regulation that would revoke the tax exemptions of private schools that had significantly different racial composition than the surrounding community. Brooks said that it was "wrong for the government to get involved in our church" and claimed that the school did not "keep track of students by race". Brooks argued that since Southside Christian School was formed before the final court order desegregating Greenville schools, the school was not a discriminatory institution.
In 2002, Southside Christian School received inquiries from parents seeking to withdraw their children from public schools after a racially charged debate on school assignment zone changes.
The school's gymnasium was destroyed in a fire on November 20, 2002.

Academics